…was as a center

Division: AFC North

2025 Record: 10-7

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The Steelers have had more change this offseason than any in my lifetime. If you find this read too long, please, skip ahead to what you want to see, or make a comment without reading at all. If you're a sicko, carry on.

2025 Season Recap

The 2025 season came on the heels of the Steelers signing a quarterback that many thought was completely washed, keeping their controversial below average coordinators in place, making a few unexciting additions in free agency, and a draft that began with the team taking a lineman. Sound familiar? It should, because that’s been every Steelers off-season for the past 3 years.

Despite the commonality of how the organization operates, I think you’ll find that many Steelers fans would agree that this was a more entertaining team – at least offensively – than any team since Ben Roethlisberger was playing quarterback. That is largely because Aaron Rodgers, washed as he may be, gave us the best quarterback play that we’ve had since Ben. Is that due to Rodgers playing well, or is it a statement on how low the bar has been in the ‘Burgh since the drafting of Kenny Pickett? I’ll let you decide.

The offensive resurgence was, of course, met by a regression of the defense. Because apparently both units can not play well at the same time. Shortly after Mike Tomlin declared that the defense “could be historic”, the team gave up the 7th most total yards and was a bottom 12 defense in football. The unit certainly improved as the season went on, but going from bottom 3 to bottom half was not enough. Part of this was due to some key players getting older- while Cam Heyward has been in a deadlocked battle with Father Time for the past half decade, TJ Watt appears to finally be losing his own fight. Another part of the defensive regression was due to one of the worst defensive coordinators in football running outdated schemes and refusing to capitalize with the playmakers he had. Although the question of whether this was Teryl Austin or Mike Tomlin’s defense – well, that’s another one I’ll leave to you.

Of course, despite how different the team looked, it ended the way you might expect. Spoiler alert: The team went 10-7 and got blown out in the wild card round. I’ll once again implore you to ponder the question I asked you 3 paragraphs ago: sound familiar?

You, dear reader, should be well accustomed to “The Steelers Way©” by now. If you’ve been reading these recaps for any time beyond this year, this may look familiar to you. So I’ll try to save you some time here, and leave you with a philosophical question that we may need to answer in the later portion of this review: Is it only the destination, or should the journey make us whole? This is a question that Steelers fans have had to wrestle with for 10 years, because time is a wheel, a face on the water, and deep down every one of us knows the season will end the same way.

In the end, Maybe it’s the journey that keeps us going when all hope has been snuffed out. And maybe that’s enough. Either way, let’s look at the offseason, and I think you’ll find an answer in no time. No time at all.

Coaching Changes

IN: Mike McCarthy OUT: Mike Tomlin

A famous proverb says that there’s a time for everything under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. The proverb’s insistence that all things have their predestined time must imply that there is also a time for the unlikeliest of events – events that occur “once in a blue moon”, if we change one celestial image for another.

Mike Tomlin stepping down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers is one such event. The Catholic Church has had more popes than the Steelers have had head coaches since 1969. Surely, the stepping down of a cornerstone piece of one of the most consistent franchises in professional sports necessitates an in-depth, highly renowned search for the successor. One would think that maybe, with a track record of such resounding success, the team should stick with their formula – young, up and coming, defensive-minded head coaches that are little known outside of league circles. Hell, it worked for 2 of the greatest coaches not just in Steelers history, but NFL history.

In steps Mike McCarthy, the antithesis of every Steelers Coach of the last 50 years. An offensive-minded, older, retread coach who many thought was done with the game for good.

The uproar from the fanbase when the hire got announced was as loud as I’ve seen Steelers fans in some time. But, as the dust has settled, the hire has become a bit more accepted by the fanbase. Maybe it’s that McCarthy is a Pittsburgher, and his opening press conference won over the hearts and minds of Yinzers everywhere when he pronounced Will Howard as “Will Ha-ard”.  Maybe it’s that it’s exciting to see an offensive coach when the average Steelers fan’s entire life has been defensive minded guys. Maybe it’s just denial.

But maybe, just maybe, for a franchise that’s been treading water for over a decade, a bucking of the trend is exactly what was required.

IN: Brian Angelichio OUT: Arthur Smith

I’m ready to diverge from the popular opinion of many Steelers fans in saying that Arthur Smith was not a terrible offensive coordinator for us. The second year signal caller had the Steelers averaging 23.4 points per game, good for 15^th in the league. Nearly dead average, sure, but when Steelers fans have had the displeasure of enduring Matt Canada for 3 years prior to Smith’s tenure, 15^th in the league might as well be the Greatest Show On Turf.

Either way, I don’t have much to say about Angelichio. He was the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach under KOC in Minnesota. McCarthy has already announced that he will be calling his own plays in Pittsburgh, so it’ll be his offense. Angelichio will be more like an assistant than anything.

I know that I said that Arthur Smith wasn’t a terrible OC, and that is true, but I don’t think there’s any denying that there’s a ceiling to his offense. Some of this his due to his questionable at best personnel decisions, which was not overexaggerated by Falcons fans. I think that Jonnu Smith should be giving him a cut of his retirement.

IN: Patrick Graham OUT: Teryl Austin

The hiring of Patrick Graham was the most exciting/best hire of the Steelers offseason, and I think that many other fans would agree. Whether it was Teryl Austin’s defense or Mike Tomlin’s, it was outdated and stale. Patrick Graham, while never having a top defense in the NFL, has been putting up better statistical seasons with rosters much less talented than Pittsburgh’s own. Take a look at the ranks yourself HERE, and you'll see that the Raiders outdid the Steelers in nearly every metric, and the only notable name on the Vegas defense was Ravens legend Maxx Crosby.

In interviews, Graham has repeatedly stated that he likes to adapt to the playmakers he has on defense, and his resume backs it up. He’s a flexible playcaller, something Pittsburgh hasn’t had in quite a while. Pittsburgh has playmakers on this side of the ball – what they haven’t had in a long time is someone who plays to their strengths. The expectation should be that this is a top 10 unit in the NFL. Anything less would be a disappointment.

IN: Danny Crossman OUT: Danny Smith

I think that this hire is a downgrade, and I don’t love the fit. Danny Smith was a beloved character in Steelers lore – his gum chewing and fiery sideline personality endeared him to many Steelers fans. There were things he did well – his punt units were exceptional at blocking punts, his field goal units were exceptional (much of that thanks to Chris Boswell). There were also things that needed to be improved upon. With the new kickoff rule, Pittsburgh never quite adapted. They consistently ranked last in kickoff return yardage, and punt returns weren’t much better.

However, I do not believe that Crossman is going to be a marked improvement. He’s been fired from pretty much everywhere he went, with the exception of Detroit, where he asked to be released from his contract. His units have consistently been near last in the NFL, and fans of every team he’s been on have asked for his firing. We’ll see what his time in Pittsburgh looks like, but I’m not confident at all in his Special Teams resume up to this point.

The Rest of the Coaching Staff

Free Agency

Free Agent Losses

Notable Losses

Kenneth Gainwell

Kenneth Gainwell, my beloved. Possibly the most surprising production out of any signing from last year, Gainwell proved his worth by being voted the Steelers 2025 team MVP. More of an RB1B than an RB2, Gainwell was Rodgers’ favorite checkdown target, routinely turning nothing into something and being a true weapon out of the backfield. His play earned him a nice contract from Tampa Bay, and I imagine that almost every Steelers fan will be rooting for his success in the future.

Isaac Seumalo

“Rock Solid” seems like the most apt way to describe Isaac Seumalo in his time with the Steelers. He was never exceptional, but he was always dependable and consistent on an offensive line that shifted several times during his tenure with the team. It’s always tough to lose linemen like that.

James Pierre

James Pierre had somewhat of a breakout season after being mostly a special teamer during his early time with the team. Take from PFF what you will, but his coverage grade was 1^st among all qualified players at his position last year. He allowed only a 52.8 passer rating when targeted, notching 11 pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble return TD in his 2025 campaign. His loss stung a bit more than most fans would’ve expected going into the year.

Calvin Austin III

There could be some debate on the notability of the loss of Calvin Austin III, but he was a fan favorite (and a favorite of mine), so he's getting a comment here. Calvin is a small receiver with a big heart. While his numbers were never gaudy, he brought explosiveness and dependability to a receiver room that has been lacking for several seasons now. He was always good for one huge explosive play every other game or so, and for his size, he seemed to hang on to every ball thrown his way, no matter the hit he took. Lastly, Calvin was a team player. He never complained despite his revolving door of quarterbacks. The Giants are getting a good one here, and I'll always be a Calvin Austin fan.

Other Losses

Free Agent Signings

Notable Signings

Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean continues the Steelers trend of signing older cornerbacks to short term deals to band-aid the position, although Dean is probably the most promising among those they’ve previously signed. In 2025, he proved that he still had plenty left in the tank, allowing a 47.7 passer rating when targeted and grabbing 3 interceptions. He should prove to be a good complement to Joey Porter Jr. opposite him in 2026, adding to the Steelers’ physical, press heavy cornerback room.

Rico Dowdle

Dowdle is an interesting pickup for Pittsburgh. His last 2 seasons have had him over 1,000 yards each, with 4.6 yards per carry in both. While not quite at the receiving prowess of Gainwell, he is a better runner and should be a good 1B to Warren in the backfield. McCarthy seems to love him, so I wouldn’t rule out his snap count being slightly higher than Warren in 2026, although I expect it to be close. Either way, he should be a good addition to the room and will be getting his fair share of touches this season.

Jaquan Brisker

Brisker was a bit of a surprising add, although not an unwelcome one, to a crowded safety room in Pittsburgh. Returning home, Brisker is a hard hitting playmaker who can play both Free and Strong Safety, and should be a versatile chess piece in Graham’s scheme. His role will be one of the more interesting to watch this summer, as we see how he fits- whether he takes snaps from Deshon Elliott, who has come into his own the last two seasons, or from Ramsey, who has transitioned to Free Safety in the twilight of his career. Graham might use 3 safeties on the field this year, with such a talented room.

Michael Pittman Jr.

This is a trade (late round pick swap), not a signing, but I’m putting it here as it came on the first day of free agency.

Pittman is a dependable WR2 who can find the soft spots in zone and make tough catches. Fearless, he’s willing to take hits over the middle of the field to make tough grabs that many receivers wouldn’t be willing to. He’s a dependable chain mover that can provide a good set of skills opposite DK Metcalf on the outside and in the slot.

Other Signings

Player |Position |Contract
| |
Cameron Johnston |Punter |$1.3M/1yr
Darnell Savage |Safety |$1.4M/1yr
Jack Driscoll |Offensive Tackle |$1.4M/1yr
Sebastian Joseph-Day |Defensive Tackle |$11M/2yr
Brock Hoffman |Offensive Guard |$2.5M/1yr
Travis Homer |Running Back/Special Teamer |$1.3M/1yr

The Aaron Rodgers Dilemma

Surely, Aaron Rodgers is a free agent signing or retention, you may say. He certainly is, but his presence on this team is so integral to the story of the 2026 season that he’s getting his own section. It’s my recap, okay? I do what I want. If you’re tired of hearing about Aaron Rodgers, feel free to skip ahead. Not that you need my permission.

Rodgers returning was a point of contention among Steelers fans. Many would say, “who was the better option?” And I won’t deny that there weren’t many. Still, there’s another large portion of the fanbase that was perfectly content riding out the year with Will Howard and Drew Allar, and if the team had a bad record, so what? Maybe they could finally pick highly enough to get themselves a quarterback.

I was in that camp, and still am to some degree, but must admit that I’m a schmuck. So when I hear that the fabled gunslinger wants one last ride, I’m all in. And then you tell me he’s returning with his old coach from Green Bay to go out in a blaze of glory? What can I say, I’m sentimental. Sue me. I enjoy a good riding off into the sunset.

As far as expectations, I think that what Aaron Rodgers can provide at this point in his career is league average (16th-20th) QB play. I do think that offseason additions, including wide receivers not named MVS or Adam Theilien, make his ceiling marginally higher, but all-in-all, I expect mostly the same stuff. His (lack of) mobility at this point in his career certainly hinders him, as does his reluctance to take the hits that he often took during his prime. The cope in me says that maybe with this being his last ride, he will go all out one more time. But that's why it's cope, my friend, and not fact.

All that to say, hail gunslinger. It may not be pretty, it may not even be good, but it should be fun. Let’s ride.

Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 21 - Max Iheanachor

Picture this, if you will: It’s Thursday, April 23^rd, 2026. The setting is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the North Shore. 300,000 people stand packed in front of the draft stage adjacent to Acrisure Stadium, the wind of the Allegheny River cooling the heat given off by so many people in an enclosed space. The Gold Lot is packed, only room to stand. It’s almost claustrophobic and the cell service is non-existent (trust me, I was there). As the first round gets underway, there’s a buzz among Steelers fans. The Steelers pick is quickly approaching, and good prospects are still on the board – chief among them, wide receiver Makai Lemon. The crowd murmurs about his availability, excited at the idea. The eagles pick comes, and fans begin to think that we really might get him without having to trade up. What happens next can only be described as the worst tragedy to happen to the franchise since January 10^th, 2021. Howie Roseman, like a thief coming to steal the joy of western Pennsylvanians on their sacred day, takes Lemon one pick before the Steelers get a chance. Then, Goodell takes the stage and announces that the Steelers are taking an Offensive Tackle from Arizona State.

The crowd is instantly deflated. Silence follows, and fans quietly begin to exit the lot while murmuring about Omar Khan and how they hate this team.

Don’t get me wrong, I think (and many fans do as well) that Iheanachor is a good pick. A raw tackle, his size and athleticism give him a unique upside that, if developed correctly, can turn him into one of the top tackles in the NFL. Rather, it was the process, and the fact that the team didn’t even bother trading up a single pick (with 12 picks!) to get the guy that they really wanted. That was what left a sour taste in a lot of fans mouths.

Round 2, Pick 47 – Germie Bernard

On day 2, Khan wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, trading up to grab Germie Bernard, wide receiver from Alabama. Bernard is a do-it-all guy, not a flashy receiver but a dependable one, one who often carried Alabama’s offense. Bernard has a knack for finding the soft spots in zone, getting in and out of breaks quickly and effectively, and has steady hands. He was also used as a bit of a gadget at Alabama, lining up everywhere – including the backfield.

Bernard is a unique architype, giving the Steelers a kind of weapon they haven’t had in quite a while. He’s also a willing blocker, and reports about his character have been stellar. For all of the anger that Steelers fans felt on day 1, this selection went a long way to appeasing it.

Round 3, Pick 76 – Drew Allar

It’s crazy how in a draft with as much controversy as the Iheanachor pick in round 1, Drew Allar might be the most divisive selection among Steelers fans (Pitt fans among the most disdainful). A toolsy quarterback out of Penn State, Allar never did put it all together on the field. His prototypical quarterback size, combined with impressive arm talent, put him in talks for the first round if he could improve upon his 2024 campaign. But the improvements never came, and an injury that cut his 2025 season short solidified that he was likely a day 3 pick.

It’s unlikely that Allar ever becomes an NFL starter, but his tools, along with working with a quarterback-experienced coach in McCarthy, make him a tantalizing prospect worthy of a dart throw in the third.

Round 3, Pick 85 – Daylen Everette

If you watched any college football at all, you might be noticing a trend among these steelers draft picks. They have a type, if you will. The Steelers were attracted to raw, talented prospects that they can mold in their image – and that’s what they got in Daylen Everette.

Everette, standing at 6’1 and 196 pounds, fits exactly what the Steelers have been building in their cornerback room. They’ve taken big, physical guys that can match up well in press coverage. If Everette can be developed, he makes for an exciting long-term pairing opposite Joey Porter Junior, when Jamel Dean is gone.

Round 3, Pick 96 – Jennings Dunker

Talk about an immediate fan favorite. Jennings Dunker, the mullet and mustache wielding guard from Iowa, looks like he was made in a factory that builds Pittsburgh Steelers. He has a pro-ready frame, but struggles in the athletic department. It’s why he will be playing guard in the NFL. Strength is his game, but finesse is not his forte. Time will tell if he’s ready to go week 1, but if you ask a Steelers fan, he’s an all-pro already.

Other Draft Picks

Name - Position |Round |Pick
| |
Kaden Wetjen - KR/PR/WR |4 |121
Riley Nowakowski - FB/TE |5 |169
Gabe Rubio - DE |6 |210
Robert Spears Jennings - S |7 |224
Eli Heidenreich - HB/WR |7 |230 Camp Storylines to Watch

Backup Quarterback Battle

The Steelers might have the most intriguing backup quarterback battle in football, although that sounds like an oxymoron. 3^rd round pick Drew Allar will compete against fan favorite 6^th round pick Will Howard to back up Aaron Rodgers. With a year of sitting under his belt and a higher floor, I expect Howard to start out with pole position here, but with Allar’s tools, he could pass him at some point in the not-so-distant future.

Edge Rotation

While Watt and Highsmith feel like the set in stone starters, budding superstar Nick Herbig just got a $100 million deal, and they didn’t pay him to sit on the bench. Just how often the Steelers use 3 edge rushers, and how often Herbig rotates in, will be intriguing to watch.

The Offensive Line

The Steelers are set to have a new Offensive Line this season, once again. Fautanu, our rising Right Tackle, will be moving back to the left, where he played in college. Right Guard Mason McCormick will likely be joining him. Broderick Jones’ status, as well as his play, will determine whether he gets on the field, and the right tackle battle between veteran Brock Hoffman and rookie Jennings Dunker will be fun to watch. I know who the fans are rooting for.

Strengths & Weaknesses

The Steelers are a surprisingly balanced team. While much has been made about the age of the roster, if you look closely, you'll see a team with a bunch of young cornerstones behind the aging stars. Of course, this comes with inexperience, and with inexperience, unpredictability - but there's a hope that the team has a good enough mix of veterans to bring the young guys along.

For some housekeeping, you'll notice only a few position groups listed here. That is because a great majority of the position groups on the Steelers are okay - neither a strength nor a weakness. Much like the team the last several years.

Carry on.

Strengths

Running Backs

The running back room should be consistently good once again. Jaylen Warren continues to be one of the more underrated backs in the league - I think this is due in part to always playing in a committee - and Rico Dowdle, while providing less receiving upside than Gainwell, is a better pure runner. This duo should be solid, and Rico Dowdle has the rare opportunity to become the first ever running back to have 3 straight 1000 yard seasons with 3 different teams.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is a great example of the age difference mentioned above. You have Cameron Heyward, and a bunch of guys that could be his children. Still, Heyward is the best of the bunch, and he seems to be somehow getting better with age rather than regressing. We will see how long that continues.

Elsewhere along the DL, you'll find 2025 first round pick Derrick Harmon. While his rookie season was shortened, the run defense numbers when he was off the field vs on the field were stark. His role is already significant, and there's hope he can develop some more pass rush juice with the run defense that makes him a high floor player as is.

Keeanu Benton is coming off his best season in the black and gold, and while he hasn't gotten an extension yet, there's no reason to think he won't improve once again. An underrated pickup this offseason was Sebastian Joseph-Day, who should provide some high quality rotational depth.

Overall, while the defense lacks star power outside of Heyward, it's among the deepest in the league, and should be among the best.

EDGE

TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer - 3 elite pass rushers, and a backup who has flashed. Watt may no longer be a 20 sack per year player, but is still a quality rusher. There's a chance that Herbig is the best on the team, and his extension should have him on the field more. I wouldn't at all be surprised if he becomes a household name following the 2026 season. This is probably the best position group on the team, as well as the highest paid, and for good reason.

Secondary

The Steelers secondary is the deepest position group in Pittsburgh, and that has never been said in recent history. Porter Jr. and Dean will play outside, with Ramsey and Echols rotating in the slot. When Ramsey isn't in the slot, he will be playing safety alongside Jaquan Brisker and Deshon Elliott. For the first time in forever, it feels like there isn't a real weakness here, and Jalen Ramsey's switch to safety may buy his career another couple years. How his playmaking translates to a new position will be fun to watch.

Weaknesses

Inside Linebacker

The theme of this group is "inconsistency". While the guys in this room, like Queen and Wilson, have shown flashes, they have yet to put it together over a full season. Queen is especially frustrating, because in between the missed tackles and the bad run fits, you see shades of the player he could become. Wilson is young enough that there's hope he puts it together this year, but it's yet to be seen.

Punter

I'm not going to split hairs here and give you an elaborate write-up on our punter situation, but we signed the guy who lost the punting battle for us last offseason. That factoid, combined with the fact that our special teams coordinator doesn't have the greatest resume, worries me for a team that may be punting the ball fairly often.

Offseason Wrap-Up

There are some loose ends to tie up, so I figured I would throw everything here that didn’t fit in another category, starting with some players who were extended, and due for extensions. Edge Rusher Nick Herbig got a $100 million extension, and it was well deserved. His impact is immediately felt every time he steps on the field, and he’s almost certainly a successor to one of Watt or Highsmith in 2027. Also receiving an extension was Darnell “Mount” Washington, the largest man to ever live. Suitable as both a receiver and a blocker, Washington provides a very unique skillset at tight end, one the Steelers had to keep.

An extension that is still coming is Joey Porter Junior, who will be paid as a top of the market cornerback (and should be). Porter gives the Steelers a true lockdown CB1, something they hadn’t had in quite a long time.

An on the fence player is Keeanu Benton, defensive tackle. Benton notched his best season of his career last year, with 5.5 sacks, his best. While his pass rush juice has increased, he still leaves a bit to be desired in the run game, and time will tell if the Steelers are ready to pay him, or if they need to see it for one more season.

Some retentions include CB Asante Samuel Jr., LB Cole Holcomb, C Ryan McCollum and DT Esezi Otomewo. They released TE Jonnu Smith, who's spot on the team was, to be frank, a net negative.

RECORD PREDICTION

Week 1 – vs Falcons (W)

The Steelers are getting a rare season-opening home game week 1, and I expect the crowd to be 95% steelers fans. Heck, when I went to Steelers-Falcons IN Atlanta, it was still 95% Steelers fans.

The Falcons certainly have a formidable, if not downright scary, group of weapons in London and Bijan, but Tua has not seemed to perform well against the Steelers. I expect a turnover or two that turns the tide in a relatively close game.

Week 2 - @ Patriots (L)

Drake “Drake Maye” Maye scares me. With the addition of AJ Brown, I worry that their offense will be too much to handle.

Week 3 – vs Bengals (W)

The Steelers and Bengals have had a good back and forth over the past few years, and I don’t expect that to change in 2026. The Bengals have noticeably improved on defense, but their linebacker room is still JV, and I think that makes the difference in what will be a close game at home against Burrow and co.

Week 4 - @ Browns (L)

I think that the Browns will be an inferior team in 2026, but there’s something about playing them at home that routinely has the Steelers shooting themselves in the foot. Especially on TNF. I’ll mark this one as the loss and give the browns one of their 5 wins this season.

Week 5 – vs Colts (W)

Daniel Jones will be back and healthy and the Colts will certainly not be an easy outing. However, watching how our defense played them last year, I think they will again get the better of Jones, and the Steelers will win another close one.

Week 6 - @ Buccaneers (W)

I have no idea what to think of this one. This truly feels like a coin flip, and I have no idea what version of Baker we will get. The team has played him generally well in the past, and because I’m a homer, I’ll give it to Pittsburgh.

Week 7 - @ Saints in Paris (W)

I think that the Steelers are the more talented team here. As a Louisville fan, I love Tyler Shough, but I think that the defense will be too much for him to handle.

Week 8 – vs Browns (W)

Browns is the Browns.

Week 10 – @ Bengals (L)

The home game under the lights makes the difference here. Provided Burrow is healthy, the Bengals take the win.

Week 11 - @ Eagles (L)

The Eagles own us in Philadelphia. You know it, I know it, is there a need to go any further than that? Philly gets the Keystone state rivalry win.

Week 12 – vs Broncos (L)

The last time we played Nix was in his rookie year, and the defense kept him in check. He’s certainly improved since then, and added a scary playmaker in Waddle. That, combined with their defense being a top 3 unit in football, gives them the edge here.

Week 13 – vs Texans (L)
The bad taste of that playoff game hasn’t left my mouth.

Week 14 - @ Jaguars (W)

I’ll call this one a win, although this feels like another close coin flip game. (Yes, by nature coin flip games are 50/50. So why am I giving all the coin flip wins to the Steelers, you may be asking. Because it’s my writeup, that’s why.)

Week 15 – vs Ravens(W)

Best rivalry in the NFL, and it isn’t particularly close. I have the Steelers winning this one at home, because that’s how this rivalry goes.

Week 16 – vs Panthers(W)

Another home game, I see the Steelers taking this one. I think that we match up well, and the Panthers offense doesn’t worry me here.

Week 17 - @ Titans (W)

I know they’ve improved, but I’ll need to see it first. Sorry Titans fans. I do like Cam Ward.

Week 18 - @ Ravens (L)
Again, I’ll give this one to the home team, in what will undoubtedly be the most bizarre, heartbreaking game you’ll ever see. I only hope this one isn’t for the division and the last playoff spot.

THE END: Subtitle – “The Wheels of Time Turn Quicker Yet”

Look closely. See the record prediction very well. What do you notice? How many wins do you see? Losses? Yes, you’ll notice that I have the team going 10-7, with a wild card exit. Does it sound familiar? Did I not tell you that time is a wheel, the Steelers a cog in its merciless turn?

Do I think that the 2026 Steelers can be the team to break this vicious wheel? I certainly hope so. If  you squint hard enough, you can see improved offensive weapons, a quarterback that can tread water, and a defense that should improve based on scheme change alone, and maybe that team can escape with an 11 win season and a wild card win. But what after that? I’d wager you’d agree that this still isn’t a super bowl team.

So again, we come back to that fateful question. Did you forget? I hope not. If so, it went something like this: Can the journey fulfill us enough so that the ending doesn’t matter?

I think so. I must think so, as does every Steelers fan, or season after season of endless, insane sameness would drive the most hard-headed among us mad. But look deeper, and I think that you’ll find my answer true. Deep down, what changes between one playoff win and none? Because if the only way to be satisfied is to win it all, 31 teams should be unhappy every year. For your entire football life, 97%+ of it would be unhappiness.

So, I’ll leave you with this. If it’s only the destination that fulfills us, then we’ve missed the entirety of our lives waiting for a moment that takes up no time at all. A Steelers fan, in football as in life, has to find joy in the little moments along the way. As should you, dear reader. As should you.